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- Wild rabbits and Domestic rabbits are the same with the scientific name Oryctolagus cuniculus which means “Harelike digger of underground passages”. In the rabbit’s natural habitat burrows or warrens are complex structures consisting of interconnecting tunnels constructed by rabbits over several years and occupied by many consecutive generations.
- Rabbits eat grass. The grass gets fermented in the digestive tract. Bacteria in the digestive tract help in fermentation and the grass becomes soft. The grass is passed out of the anus as dark droppings called cecotrophs or night feces The rabbit eats this and the material passes through the digestive system for the second time. During this phase all the nutrients of food are absorbed and the waste material is sent out of the anus as small, hard and round droppings, the real feces.
- Man’s relationship with the rabbits dates back to centuries. Romans farmed rabbits for meat and fur and kept them in fenced enclosures. The practice continued with the Normans and lasted through middleages. Modern man developed a fancy for the animal and established the rabbit through selective breeding as one of the best pets.
- Rabbits range in size from small dwarf breed types like the Netherland Dwarf and the Polish dwarf which do not weigh more than 2.5lbs(1kg). The larger ones are the British Giant, French Lop and the Belgian that weigh around 18lbs(8kgs). Crossbred varieties of in between sizes and weight are also common.
- Three basic coat types are common among the rabbits. They are Long- haired, Rex and Normal types. Angora and Cashmere Lop are the Long- haired breeds. Rex breed is famous for the velvety coat. The Normal breeds are Tan, Silver and Polish.
- The best pet rabbit food is dried grass that is available as hay or kiln-dried grass. Hay from meadows is soft and nutritive. In the US timothy grass is long and hard and is preferred by the rabbits. But the Alfalfa hay is a very rich source of calcium and the pet rabbit should not be fed with this hay, if the pet is fatty and cannot manage excess calcium.
- It is always better that a pet rabbit has another rabbit to keep company with. A lone rabbit will easily get bored and sick. Rabbits communicate by grinding their teeth. Gentle grinding of teeth indicates that the pet is content and happy. If the teeth grinding is slow and hard, it is a sign of discomfort and pain. The pet rabbit may occasionally scream to draw attention or express fear and shock.
- Unlike dogs or cats that are described as predator animals, rabbits are prey animals. But the three manage to get along with proper treatment and care. Cats and rabbits get along very well and become best friends too. A welltrained dog may not refuse sharing a rug with a rabbit. When there are more pets of different animals in a household, it calls for a number of precautions.
- Handling of rabbits by children requires adult supervision. The rabbit may be dropped resulting in an injury for the pet. If the pet feels insecure in the child’s hand, the pet may scratch or bite the child. Child and rabbit interactions should be encouraged at ground level and the child should be taught to pick up the rabbit in such a way that the pet feels safe and comfortable.
- Therapy pet programs involve volunteers taking their pets to people who are unwell, depressed, bored or lonely in old age homes, hospitals or nursing homes. Earlier, dogs were used in the program. Now people prefer rabbits because of their toy like features and cute looks.
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